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Multi-crore money scam: Private firm’s offices sealed, bank accounts frozen

20 December 2023

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Srinagar, Dec 20: Acting swiftly on multiple public complaints and media reports, Cyber Police Kashmir has conducted raids at multiple places and sealed the registered offices of a private company involved in duping a large chunk of people of their hard earned money, besides the incriminating materials including electronic devices and documents were seized while several identified accounts operated by the company were frozen.

The government has, however, stated that the investigation has already started and security agencies as well as police are working on technical inputs.

In an official communiqué issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a police spokesman said that Cyber Police Kashmir received information that a company, operating under the name “Curative Survey Private Limited” and through a fraudulent website, has allegedly scammed and cheated individuals.

“The victims were deceived by the fraudulent company, enticing them to invest their hard-earned money with false promises of substantial returns. During the preliminary investigation, it revealed that the said company exhorted the common public to register on its website and become a partner in surveys it was undertaking. The registered individuals were promised payment for undertaking those surveys,” the spokesman said.

In the last few days, the company allegedly stopped the due payment to persons registered with it, and its promoters and directors absconded and were not reachable by their staff and registered individuals, police said.

Taking cognizance of the matter, Cyber Police Kashmir registered a case under FIR number 39/2023, under the relevant sections of IPC and IT Act in Cyber PS Kashmir Zone, Srinagar.

Investigations and details from some victims indicate that the company had allegedly promised payments to people who were registering on their website and carrying out daily survey activities, police said.

The lure of easy money within a short time span attracted unsuspecting individuals to subscribe for this allegedly fake and fraudulent scheme, police said, adding that in the initial stages of the investigation, Cyber Police Kashmir has frozen several identified accounts operated by the said company.

Searchers were conducted at multiple locations and registered offices of the company and the same stands sealed as well. During searches incriminating materials including electronic devices and documents were seized, police said.

“The registered owner promoters of this company are being identified and being investigated. The role of local office staff and persons promoting the schemes on social media is also being investigated,” police said.

The general public is once again advised to be cautious of online scams and urged to verify the credentials of online schemes before investing their hard-earned money. Citizens affected by this scam are requested to share relevant information, if any, with the investigation agency, police said, adding that the investigation of the said case is being done expeditiously.

Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said that investigation has been started into the multi-crore scam and also cautioned people not to fall prey to such tactics.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function at SKICC, Bidhuri, as per KNO said that the issue has been brought into their notice and security agencies and police are working on technical inputs.

He said that a probe is already underway and they are hopeful that people, who lost their money, will get it back. “There is always a need to behave cautiously as prevention is better than falling prey to these incidents,” he said.

On Tuesday, a multi-crore scam surfaced in the Kashmir Valley after scores of investors alleged that they were duped of their hard earned money by a private investment firm.

—(KNO)